Even with a crackly phone line, 9,000 kilometres and a heavy Manchester accent between us, Liam Gallagher is making himself very clear indeed. Mind you, the 38-year-old Beady Eye frontman has always been an advocate of the direct-as-a-slap-in-the-chops approach – a reputation that’s repeatedly seen him labelled as the most outspoken man in music during his 20 year career. And what a career it’s been.

As a founding member of a little band called Oasis, by the turn of the century Liam had his name on the credits of some of the most iconic rock anthems of the modern era. The band claimed the UK number one spot with each and every one of their seven studio albums (1995 breakthrough record (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? remains the third biggest-selling album of all time in their home country) and hoovered up awards from anyone with balls enough to put Liam on the guest list.

But of course, the music has only ever been half the story. For every tabloid inch dedicated to gushing praise for Liam’s latest single, you could count on a good newspaper-and-a-half’s worth of snarky gossip columns chronicling his infamous off-stage exploits. Not that he’s ever been one to shy away from the press – after all, anyone who spars with the paparazzi on the streets of Soho, lets off a fire extinguisher in the face of footballer Paul Gascoigne and publicly baits members of rival bands should expect a little attention. Above all others though, the biggest spats – the ones that really got the showbiz writers rubbing their palms together with glee – involved band-mate and big brother Noel, with whom Liam fell out on a seemingly weekly basis.

As if it were ever in doubt, it was Liam’s fractious alliance with his own flesh and blood that eventually brought about Oasis’ demise. Following a backstage fight during Paris’ Rock en Seine festival on August 28, 2009, the brothers’ relationship – and the band – was over for good, with Noel announcing on Twitter the same evening that he ‘simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.’

While Noel took some time out (debut solo album Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds is due out next month), Liam’s response was more immediate, starting Beady Eye just two months later with former Oasis men Gem Archer and Andy Bell, with former Lightning Seeds sticksman Chris Sharrock handed drumming duties. An album followed in February this year, the very Oasis-y Different Gear, Still Speeding earning mostly positive praise from the critics.

In the words of one of Liam’s biggest icons, then, it’s been a long and winding road. Still, as he’s extremely keen to convey from his hotel room in the German city of Bochum – the launch pad for Beady Eye’s first ever world tour – rock’n’roll’s perma-swaggering, swear-happy superstar is feeling just as confident as ever...

Liam Gallagher: Yeah that’s right, I’ve got the confidence. And it’s not arrogance, it’s confidence. I’m glad you picked up on that. It’s not really even about confidence, it’s about passion. I’ll go toe-to-toe with John Lennon, Elvis Presley, any of the cunts, know what I mean? We’re just as passionate as what they were. And if you are, then no one can touch you, can they?

You played a benefit gig in London and released a Beatles cover for the Japanese earthquake relief fund. Do you feel a special connection with the country?

Liam: Yeah, love Japan, you know what I mean, I’ve always had a great time when I’ve gone there, the people are amazing, definitely made of the right stuff. And it’s not just because Oasis or Beady Eye have been successful over there, I just dig the people, know what I mean, everyone’s just cool. So being in a band when that stuff happened, we were ready to go and ready to help out. It was more than raising money, know what I mean, it was just showing people that we’re thinking of them. But that was one of the best nights, musically, for me, ever. I know it was under shit circumstances, but all the people there in that room. It was mega, man. Just a mega night, and I’m glad I was there and witnessed it and felt it and it was top.

Isn’t being on tour a bit draining?

Gem Archer: No way. It’s invigorating.

Liam: I tell you what you’re gonna see, you’re gonna see a bit of realism when you see Beady Eye. This is how we are, we don’t turn it on then become different people when we walk off the stage – this is how we are. No filler, straight in-yer-face rock’n’roll music, no jumping around the stage like bitches, you know what I mean – it is what it is.

Is there a different dynamic on stage, compared with the Oasis days?

Liam: There is a different vibe, but I wouldn’t want to be pointing it out, know what I mean, that’s for other people to do. But we’re equally as into it as we were when we were Oasis. Difference is that now we feel like the underdogs and I like that, know what I mean? With Oasis it got to a stage when we were always the main fuckin’ act. Now we’re the underdogs and it’s cool.

So you’re enjoying having something to prove?

Liam: Yep. Yyyep. Without a doubt. Without a doubt, I fuckin’ love it. If we could fuckin’ stay like that for the rest of my life I’d be fuckin’ happy as Larry man, know what I mean? But we move on, don’t we? So the new album will be better, it has to be and it will be, and I think we’ll move on and progress to be a headline act. Which will be great, but then all the fun goes out of it then, know what I mean? You have nowhere to go, know what I mean?

So you’re not looking forward to the success?

Gem: Well yeah, we are, but I mean we still did small gigs with Oasis. It wasn’t always stadiums, you know? We haven’t got that yearning, which a lot of bands have, for stadiums and arenas. It’s kind of like, we’ve done all that and we’re still here and we still get off on the same things.

Liam: When you’re a headline act it doesn’t matter who you are, you’re the main fuckin’ talking point. But I’ve seen some support acts that have absolute fuckin’ ripped them to pieces, and hopefully that’s what we’re doing.

And is the new album still on the cards for later this year?

Liam: Without a doubt, mate. That’s what we joined the band for, to keep making music. Without a fucking doubt mate. Without a doubt. And it’ll be a beauty.
Are there any new influences for us to listen out for?

Gem: We’re getting the ideas together at the minute. We’ll see how it sounds when we get into the studio, but we’re not listening to anything out of the ordinary. It’s not gonna be a reggae album. And it certainly ain’t gonna be a dance record. It’s just gonna be great crafted rock’n’roll. It’s gonna be another great rock’n’roll album.

Any bands around at the moment that you’re taking inspiration from?

Liam: Not really, to be quite honest. I like Miles Kane, I think he’s doing a good job. He’s a young lad and I think he’s gonna be mega. But to be brutally honest, and I’m not being a bitch about this, but there isn’t anyone really. And if there was, believe you me I’d be shouting it from the rooftops, but there isn’t.
Gem: There’s no one really setting the world on fire, no one’s got any identity. The minute you start getting into a band, they start changing their whole bloody identity, you know what I mean? And that’s not what it’s about. Everyone’s just moving too fast, man.

What do you make of all these bands that are getting back together after years and years apart?

Gem: Initially I thought, ‘good for them.’ I suppose it’s when it all becomes not about the music and it’s all about quick fuckin’ smash-and-grab stuff.

Liam: It’s all about fuckin’ paying the bills and it’s taking the magic out of the music and what you joined the band for. They fucking shouldn’t have split up in the first place. I know people don’t get on and all that, but getting back together because one of them’s fuckin’ skint and one of them’s a DJ, it’s like giving fuckin’ music a bad fuckin’ name. Splitting up to get back together to make some fuckin’ money, it’s like fuckin’ sort it out man. It’s all bollocks in my book.

Gem: All very Machiavellian.

What about Noel – have you heard his new single, ‘The Death of You and Me’?

Liam: Heard it? I’ve fuckin’ sang on it. Not actually on that one, but on most of them. Noel Gallagher’s a great songwriter, there’s no questioning that he’s gonna make a great album and people will like it. Some people won’t like it. Same thing with us, you know what I mean. But I’d rather him make music than not make music.

Would you be worried releasing an album alongside your brother?

Liam: Listen mate, The Beatles get back to-fuckin’-gether tomorrow and I wouldn’t be worried. And Led Zeppelin. I know Beady Eye’s potential. Talk is cheap and all that bollocks, you know what I mean, but we know what we’ve got up our fuckin’ sleeves man. I wouldn’t put an album out if I didn’t think we could stand up against any cunt, let alone Noel Gallagher. So yeah, I’ll go toe-to-toe with anyone. Musically, physically, mentically... uh y’know... mentally – anything. Without a doubt yeah, fuckin’ right.

Fair enough. Music aside, we understand you’re also making a name for yourself as a fashion designer. How did you feel about the rioters in Manchester targeting Pretty Green – the label you design for? Did you take it personally?

Liam: I don’t think it was personal, no. Everyone got hit, didn’t they. The main thing is that no one got hurt, and that works for Pretty Green. The gaff didn’t get burnt down, we’re insured. They’re only clothes, know what I mean. I wouldn’t want it to be happening on a weekly basis, but yeah man, everything’s been taken care of.

You didn’t fancy trying to defend the place?

Liam: What, stand there with a baseball bat? I don’t think that would’ve been wise, would it? They only would’ve fuckin’ pinched it anyway and ran off!

Beady Eye are planning an even beadier 2012, promising a second album next summer. Just six months after their debut LP, Liam Gallagher says the group are already plotting a follow-up, promising to release "two great albums then get out of people's faces".

"We were thinking of the second album before we were thinking about the first," Gallagher told BBC Newsbeat this week. "That's the way we do it around our way."

Although Beady Eye will spend the rest of the year touring Europe, Japan and South America, Gallagher hopes to return to the studio in the new year. "The way I see it is you hit 'em with two great albums then get out of people's faces as much for yourself [as for] the public," he said. "Have a bit of a break, come back with the third album and then the fourth. Two albums out, two albums out. In an ideal world that would be great."

Beady Eye released Different Gear, Still Speeding in February. It debuted at No 3 – a healthy result for any new group. But Beady Eye aren't just any new group: formed in the ashes of Oasis, the band have struggled to live up to expectations. While Gallagher wants them "to be bigger than the Beatles", Different Gear, Still Speeding has sold fewer copies than any Oasis LP. "The first [Beady Eye] album was making sure we got back out there, back in the ring," Gallagher said. "We put everything into that album, but without a doubt the second will be better."

Liam also claimed he is continuing legal proceedings against Noel Gallagher, over his brother's claim that Oasis cancelled a 2009 gig due to Liam's hangover. "It's not nice suing your family," Liam said. "But [Noel] was telling porkies for the sake of his mates and journalists to get a wisecrack on me. I ain't having that. I ain't a fraud and this band ain't a fraud."

Last week, Noel admitted that Liam did indeed have laryngitis on the night Oasis were scheduled to perform at V festival. "If he gets offended by my opinions on such things then, you know, I apologise," Noel said. "But it's all getting very silly and a little bit out of hand and it's not very cool." Last week, it was reported that the Gallaghers' mother had waded into the fray.

"If [Noel] listens to his lawyers and does the right thing then it'll be well and truly over," Liam said. "I didn't want this to happen.

30 August 2011

Definitely Maybe is the debut album by English band Oasis, released on August 30th 1994. It was an immediate commercial and critical success in the UK, having followed on the heels of singles "Supersonic", "Shakermaker" and particularly the popular "Live Forever".

Definitely Maybe went straight to number one and 7x platinum in the UK Album charts on initial release. It was the fastest selling debut album of all time in the UK when released. Definitely Maybe marked the beginning of Oasis' success in America, selling over 1 million copies there, although only reaching #58 on the Billboard 200. The album went on to sell over 7.5 million copies worldwide.

In 1997 Definitely Maybe was named the 14th greatest album of all time in a 'Music of the Millennium' poll conducted by HMV, Channel 4, The Guardian and Classic FM. In 2005 Channel 4's '100 Greatest Albums' countdown placed the album at number 6. In 2006 NME placed the album third in a list of the greatest British albums ever, behind The Stone Roses and The Queen Is Dead. In a recent British poll, run by NME and the book of British Hit Singles and Albums, Definitely Maybe was voted the best album of all time with The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band finishing second and Revolver third. Q magazine readers placed it at five on their greatest albums of all time list in 2006 and in that same year NME hailed it as the greatest album of all time. It is frequently referred to as the greatest debut album of all time.

Album History

In 1994, Oasis were seen as a distant echo of the moribund 'Madchester' scene which had exploded in the early 1990s. Unlike other Madchester bands who indulged in experiments with funk, dance or hip-hop, Oasis presented themselves as a relatively straightforward rock and roll band. Along with bands like Blur and The Verve they seemed to encapsulate a new wave, one which did not yet have a name. By the end of the year the media coined the term Britpop, of which Definitely Maybe retrospectively became one of the pivotal albums.

Many of the songs had originally appeared on Oasis' "Live Demonstration" demo recorded in Liverpool the year before with Chris and Tony Griffiths of The Real People. The main recording sessions took longer than expected, with the bulk of the album having to be recorded three different times with Mark Coyle producing, before Owen Morris came up with a mix that everyone was satisfied with. The album cost nearly £85,000 to produce, a huge amount of money for a debut album at the time.

The album title, according to Noel Gallagher, comes from a poster he saw in a pub, although he cannot remember what the poster was advertising.

Liam Gallagher says he is sad about suing his brother Noel over his claims he was too hung over to perform at the V Festival in 2009 but he had no choice:

" Listen, that had to happen, I don't take lightly to be called a fraud."

" I feel sad but I feel a lot sadder that there are people walking around thinking that I wouldn't get out of bed cos I had a few beers" he told 6 Music.

Noel has since apologised for saying Liam wasn't ill and the legal case has been dropped:

"I've called the dogs off a little bit but there still a few things that need to be cleared up, I didn't like doing it and it hurts a lot of people around it but it had to be done" the Beady Eye singer explained.

As for Beady Eye, they have just announced a number of UK tour dates in November.

Liam says they will take Christmas off and dive straight into the next record:

"February or the end of January we will be in (the studio) doing our album.

"We've got enough material for another record and that is what we shall do, whether people like it or not."

Beady Eye haven't included any Oasis songs in their sets so far because they want to establish the band in it's own right but that doesn't mean they won't in the future:

"Maybe down the line, in the third album we might throw some in there just for the crack."

As for his brother Noel's solo album, which consists of a lot of old material written when Oasis were still together, what does Liam make of it?

"I have sung on half of them, it was a lot better when I was singing on them but I am sure people will like the soft approach."

When it comes to reputations in the music industry, it’s a shame that Noel Gallagher, formerly of Oasis, is ofttimes equated more with his tumultuous sibling rivalry with brother Liam Gallagher than with his fantastic guitar playing and talented songwriting skills.

Which is why Noel Gallagher’s debut solo effort on his upcoming album High Flying Birds on Sour Mash/Mercury Records is so important.

Despite his dramatic split from Oasis in 2009, Gallagher still deems his work with the band as a vital creative aspect of his life, but High Flying Birds really lets Gallagher’s talents soar solo and sans drama.

We’ve got an exclusive new track called “If I Had A Gun…” for you from High Flying Birds. Check it out and tell us what you think!

Set to be released on November 8th, High Flying Birds will be Noel Gallagher’s first solo album project since his split with Oasis in 2009.

Gallagher starts touring this fall to support his new solo venture.

KROQ will present one of Noel Gallagher’s autumn shows at UCLA Royce Hall on November 17th, 2011. Tickets will go on sale next Friday, September 9th at 10am, but KROQ will have a presale on Thursday, September 8th from 10am-10pm.

Expect to hear some Oasis tracks from the musician; as the primary acting songwriter for Oasis, Gallagher holds the songs closely to his psyche.

“I’m proud of them and of what they mean to people,” Gallagher said. “I’ll never do a gig without playing them. They’re like drugs to me.”

Some of the songs that Noel Gallagher wrote for Oasis during their massive fifteen year career include “Live Forever,” “Supersonic,” “Wonderwall,” and “Don’t Look Back In Anger.”

“If I Had A Gun…” follows suit with a lush, melodic Britpop arrangement, melancholic love lyrics, and the swirling rush of Gallagher’s swaggering guitar riffs.

Last week Liam Gallagher announced he was to sue his older brother Noel over what he claims were "lies" about the reasons Oasis split in 2009.

The Beady Eye singer talks about plans for a new album, how the "rug was pulled out" from Oasis and the fact that things with his brother still need sorting out.

The band talked to Newsbeat's music reporter Greg Cochrane.

Liam Gallagher says he is sad about suing his brother Noel over his claims he was too hung over to perform at the V Festival in 2009 but he had no choice:

" Listen, that had to happen, I don't take lightly to be called a fraud."

" I feel sad but I feel a lot sadder that there are people walking around thinking that I wouldn't get out of bed cos I had a few beers" he told 6 Music.

Noel has since apologised for saying Liam wasn't ill and the legal case has been dropped:

"I've called the dogs off a little bit but there still a few things that need to be cleared up, I didn't like doing it and it hurts a lot of people around it but it had to be done" the Beady Eye singer explained.

As for Beady Eye, they have just announced a number of UK tour dates in November.

Liam says they will take Christmas off and dive straight into the next record:

"February or the end of January we will be in (the studio) doing our album.

"We've got enough material for another record and that is what we shall do, whether people like it or not."

Beady Eye haven't included any Oasis songs in their sets so far because they want to establish the band in it's own right but that doesn't mean they won't in the future:

"Maybe down the line, in the third album we might throw some in there just for the crack."

As for his brother Noel's solo album, which consists of a lot of old material written when Oasis were still together, what does Liam make of it?

"I have sung on half of them, it was a lot better when I was singing on them but I am sure people will like the soft approach."

Beady Eye are pleased to announce they will round up a hugely successful year with a string of UK shows for November 2011.

The band released their debut album ‘Different Gear, Still Speeding’ in February which went gold on release and embarked on a sold out UK tour soon after. Since then they have gigged all over the world and played countless festivals including a headline appearance on the NME/Radio 1 tent at last weekend’s Reading & Leeds Festival.

Next week the band (Liam Gallagher, Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Chris Sharrock) will travel to play shows in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan and then onto Abu Dhabi, Europe and South America before returning for these UK dates. A second run of appearances in North America will then take them up to Christmas.

Liam Gallagher has reiterated his threat to sue his brother Noel over remarks the guitarist made about Oasis' 2009 split.

A report in The Sun last week (August 24) suggested that the legal wrangle was now done and dusted, with a 'source' claiming that the upset caused to siblings' mum Peggy led Liam to have a "moment of realisation".

However, speaking about the lawsuit to BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat, Liam declared: "It's not over yet."

He continued:

There are a few things which need to be sorted out. I didn't want this to happen. It's not nice suing your family but like I said, he was telling porkies for the sake of his mates and journalists to get a wise crack on me.

Liam added:

If he listens to his lawyers and does the right thing then it'll be well and truly over. I never wanted it to happen but it has to happen.

The singer announced plans to sue Noel ten days ago over his "lies" about the reasons Oasis cancelled a planned headline slot at V Festival's Chelmsford site in 2009.

During a press conference to launch his new solo project Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds the guitarist claimed Liam had a hangover, while the frontman has always maintained laryngitis was the reason why he pulled out of the show.

Noel subsequently apologised for his part in the spat during an online webchat with fans last week, which you can view by scrolling down and clicking below. He admitted that Liam had a doctor's note to prove his laryngitis claims, but added that the feud was getting "very silly and a little bit out of hand".

Meanwhile, Beady Eye made their debut at the Reading And Leeds Festivals over the weekend (26 and 27). Liam couldn't resist having a pop at Noel during the band's slot on the Berkshire leg of the event, quipping that his brother was playing a "fucking acoustic guitar" elsewhere on the site.

Relations were already strained but we have a feeling Noel Gallagher won’t be able to resist bragging to his little brother Liam that his new album is flying up the Amazon pre-order charts.

The former-Oasis man’s latest musical offering: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds has received three times as many pre-orders as Liam’s album Different Gear, Still Speeding with his new band Beady Eye.

The feud has been dragging on since 2009 when Noel, 44, left Oasis declaring he could no longer work with Liam, 38. Liam responded by saying: “It takes more than blood to be my brother.” But given Noel’s new success it seems it has all worked out for the best.

Noel admitted recently that his infamous concert walk-out might have been a mistake. “I made a snap decision. If I had my time again I’d have gone back and done the gig.” We wonder how he feels now?

Liam Gallagher is adamant he will never reform Oasis because his new band Beady Eye is the ''best thing'' he's ever done.

Liam Gallagher won't reform Oasis for people who hate him.

The singer insists he has no intention of getting the group back together following his brother Noel's departure in August 2009 for music fans who he thinks don't like him.

Liam would rather continue with his new band Beady Eye - who he formed with the other members of Oasis, Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Chris Sharrock, in the aftermath of the split.

He told Q magazine: "There are some nights when you think this is s**t. But then you had those days in Oasis. Some people are taking time to catch on. The Scottish got it, Ireland was a bit slow. People say about getting Oasis back together, but why should I sing those songs to the 70 per cent of people who think I'm a ****? To me, this is the best thing I've ever done."

Although Liam isn't prepared to get back together with Noel he did this week drop his legal action against him.

The 38-year-old rocker had served papers against his 44-year-old sibling accusing him of releasing false statements about the end of the band, including a comment Liam didn't play the second night of their headlining slot at the V Festival in Chelmsford, England, in August 2009 because he was ill from drinking.

The 'Bring The Light' singer withdrew his legal action after guitarist Noel admitted his brother did have laryngitis before the scheduled concert.

Noel said: "For the record, it is a fact that he was diagnosed with laryngitis and it is a fact that he had a doctor's note to prove it. I'd just like to say that if he gets offended by my opinions on such things then I apologise. It's all getting a little silly and out of hand and it's not very cool."

The following statement by Noel Gallagher, was posted on the Official Oasis Site on August 28th 2009.

"It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.

"Apologies to all the people who bought tickets for the shows in Paris, Konstanz and Milan."

Oasis were due to play the Rock en Seine festival in Paris but cancelled at the last minute. When the support band said Oasis would not be performing, many fans thought it was a joke, but then screens at either side of the stage showed this message: "As a result of an altercation within the band, the Oasis gig has been cancelled."

Beady Eye made their Leeds Festival debut tonight (August 27), with fans coming out in praise for the show as soon as it was wrapped up.

Liam Gallagher's band got a huge thumbs up from the big crowd, who turned out to see the former Oasis frontman make his first appearance at the festival in 11 years.

AJ Garthorpe, 21, said: "It was a mega wasn't it? What did you expect though, it's Liam Gallagher. He's on the ball. I think he’s got more passion now and he's enjoying it more now than he was in Oasis.

Nick Daniel, 28, said: "I thought they were really good. They're quite similar to Oasis but I like their influences like Paul Weller. It's good to see Liam play on his own too. He's a good frontman and he carries the band. I'd rather go and see them than any other band here."

Some fans in the crowd said they thought Beady Eye's songs were better than Noel Gallagher's recent debut solo single 'The Death Of You And Me'.

"I have to admit they’re better than what I’ve heard of Noel Gallagher so far. I'm not impressed with his single at all," said Adam Lea, 18.

Becky Keoghan, 18, said she initially shunned Beady Eye because Noel wasn't in the band. But she changed her opinon after seeing them at Bramham Park tonight, saying: "I refused to listen to them at first because Noel wasn’t in the band but now that I've seen them I really like them."

Unlike during last night's gig in Reading, Liam kept quiet about his brother, keeping chat to a minimum as he rattled off songs from their debut album 'Different Gear, Still Speeding'.

It may have been pouring with rain, with the bad weather turning things into a mud bath, but that didn't stop Nicole Gallagher and her son Gene enjoy a family day out at the Reading Festival yesterday to watch Liam Gallagher's band Beady Eye take to the stage.

The pair watched the performance from the safety of the side of the stage, with Gene protecting his ears with huge headphones as his father strutted his stuff in a camouflage jacket.

Wrapped up warm in a khaki jacket and Alexander McQueen skull-print scarf, Nicole beamed with pride as she watched Liam perform.

Click here to see a picture of Nicole and Gene watching the performance.

Liam Gallagher took the opportunity to have a dig at brother Noel during Beady Eye's Reading Festival debut on Friday, but Twitter was far from impressed.

The former Oasis stars have been embroiled in a bitter war of words since the band’s acrimonious split in 2009, with Liam even launching a lawsuit against his brother after Noel accused him of pulling out of V Festival because he was too hungover to play.

Liam has since dropped the lawsuit but their rivalry continues, with Liam telling the audience during Beady Eye’s set that Noel was probably ‘somewhere over there playing a f**king acoustic guitar’.

Noel probably won’t be too concerned by the dig, as Beady Eye were subject to a barrage of criticism by Twitter users last night as the BBC aired highlights from their set.

One fan was pleased to see the band’s name trending, writing: ‘Beady Eye are trending! Not as good as Oasis, but still a bloody good british rock band!’
But most tweets were from users slating their appearance, with @petelemania writing: ‘Imagine being at a festival and choosing to watch Beady Eye over... anything else.’
@faamehookerr summed up the thoughts of many by simply saying: ‘Beady Eye are really bad.’

Mike Joyce, former drummer for The Smiths, added: ‘Just watched My Chemical Romance & Beady Eye ont' telly at Reading. I'm so glad I was in The Smiths.’

The band will be hoping for a better reception tonight when they perform at Reading’s sister site in Leeds.

Beady Eye made their debut appearance at Reading Festival tonight (August 26) - and singer Liam Gallagher couldn't resist having a little dig at his brother Noel during the show.

Most members of the band, including Liam, were making their first live appearance at the festival since 2000, when they headlined the festival as part of Oasis. Beady Eye headlined the NME/Radio 1 Stage tonight while My Chemical Romance were headlined the Main Stage, with a guest appearance from Queen guitarist Brian May.

Liam was uncharacteristically un-chatty throughout the set, seeming to only make one brief reference to brother Noel (pictured right), joking that his sibling, who has recently launched his solo career, was "somewhere over there playing a fucking acoustic guitar."

The Beady Eye man recently filed a lawsuit against Noel for accusing him of being hungover during V Festival 2009 - where Oasis pulled out of the Chelmsford leg with Liam citing laryngitis as the cause. He has since dropped the lawsuit after Noel admitted his brother did have a doctor's note for the illness.

Beady Eye played tracks from their debut album 'Different Gear, Still Speeding' at Reading and head to Leeds Festival later today.

The event took place on the roof (and in an adjoining penthouse suite) of the Mondrian Hotel Soho on Crosby Street in New York City. This meant that, along with the new Gallagher tunes, we also were treated to one of the best-possible views of Lower Manhattan at sunset, not to mention free mixed drinks, which were named after songs from the new album. I made several trips to the bar for a drink called the "Record Machine" -- plus an obligatory beer or two (and a pocketful of spring rolls).

Listeners got to hear six songs from the album, including "The Death Of You And Me," which can be downloaded at Gallagher's website. The five other titles were "Everybody's On The Run," "Dream On," "If I Had A Gun...," "(I Wanna Live In A Dream With My) Record Machine" and "AKA... What A Life!"

I don't know if all those Record Machines, beers and spring rolls had any influence on my judgement, but I must admit: The six Gallagher tunes were easily among the best music I've heard in 2011. This is saying something, because I usually hate everything after one listen.

First of all, it's obvious that Liam Gallagher, Gem Archer and the other Beady Eye blokes took one element of late-period Oasis' sound with them -- the heavy guitars and "rock 'n' roll band" feel -- leaving Noel with the great, soaring melodies -- also leaving him, in a sense, with pure composition without the constraints of the preconceived way a particular band or artist is supposed to sound.

Some of the tunes reminded me of top-notch Oasis B-sides, which, as any Oasis fan knows, is a very good thing. The instrumentation varied from track to track, sometimes acoustic, sometimes atmospheric and dreamy; I thought I heard a Mellotron during "Record Machine," which had a Beatles-inspired feel and beat, much like George Harrison's "When We Was Fab."

Some tunes were slow, moody kings of the minor key; others were upbeat and catchy, surpassing "The Death Of You And Me" in hook-ery and riff-ery. By the way, "The Death Of You And Me," with its New Orleans-influenced brass solo break, is a prime example of the new freedom Gallagher is displaying with High Flying Birds.

"There are no guitars on the album," said Gallagher, upon hearing we were from Guitar World.

"No, I heard a guitar solo in 'Record Machine,' " I said.

"Yeah, there are two solos on the whole album," he said.

Anyway, just so it's out there, the six songs I heard were brilliant. I can't wait to hear the rest of the album.

Stay tuned for a full interview with Gallagher on GuitarWorld.com in the very near future.

26 August 2011

"I recorded one song and it was fun and I thought it sounded really good. Then I recorded another and I thought, 'That's f*cking great, man'."

Noel Gallagher was in New York City last night for a listening party for his album due out in November on Sour Mash/Mercury, and he was typically full of his matter-of-fact bluster. And most importantly, Noel's new tracks deliver the goods.

The preview for "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds" was held atop Soho's Mondrian Hotel, with a spectacular view on a balmy, pre-hurricane Irene night over a blaring soundsystem.

Gallagher, the premier songwriter of his generation, doesn't simply rely on the bag of tricks he developed during his tenure with Oasis. The songs that make-up "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds" have a cinematic feel and artistic scope only hinted at over Gallagher's 15-plus year career. Fans of Oasis won't be disappointed, though, as there are plenty of the usual touchstones. But those who dismissed the band, for whatever reason, have reason to seek this album out. From the all-too-brief time I got to spend with the tracks last night I'm tipping this to be one of the best albums of the year, if not the best.

If you don't believe me, just sample Gallagher's new single "The Death of You and Me" or watch the video. It's familiar and classic, but adventurous and different all at the same time. And Gallagher's voice sounds better than ever, both here and throughout the new album.

And Gallagher seems to know what he has on his hands. He was relaxed and talkative last night, taking time to shoot the breeze with all comers and share anecdotes about the making of the album.

Watch my column for an interview with Gallagher as well as producer Dave Sardy, and more news about "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds".